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Konami bars Kojima from collecting Metal Gear Solid award

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain won Best Action/Adventure Game at The Game Awards in Los Angeles, a win recognising one of the year's finest titles. Unfortunately, director Hideo Kojima -- the man whose singular vision has defined not just this latest instalment but the series as a whole -- was prevented from attending by the game's publisher Konami.

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Actor Kiefer Sutherland, who voiced protagonist Snake in The Phantom Pain, accepted the award on Kojima's behalf, before The Game Awards' host and producer Geoff Keighley broke from the festivities to explain why. "As you noticed, Hideo Kojima is not here with us tonight and I wanted to tell you a little bit about that," Keighly told viewers. "Mr. Kojima had every intention of being with us tonight, but unfortunately he was informed by a lawyer representing Konami just recently that he would not be allowed to travel to tonight's award ceremony to accept any awards." "He's under an employment contract," Keighley continued, to loud boos from the audience, "and it's disappointing and it's inconceivable to me that an artist like Hideo would not be allowed to come here and celebrate with his peers and his fellow teammates, on such an incredible game as Metal Gear Solid V." "But that's the situation we're in. Hideo is in Tokyo right now watching the show - and we wanted you to know Hideo that we're thinking of you -- and we miss you. We hope to see you at The Game Awards 2016."

You can view the full section starting here, from Sutherland's acceptance onwards.

While Kojima's non-appearance was a disappointment, Keighley did unveil a surprising tribute to the developer: a live performance of "Quiet's Theme", performed by Stefanie Joosten, the actress who performed the character in Phantom Pain.

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Kojima's relationship with Konami has become increasingly strained over the last year. The publisher has cancelled Silent Hills, his highly anticipated horror collaboration with Pan's Labyrinth Director Guillermo del Toro (even going so far as to pull P.T., its well-received demo, from PSN), removed his name from Metal Gear Solid V packaging, and closed down the American arm of Kojima Productions -- responsible for Metal Gear Online.

Despite all this, Konami insists Kojima has not left the company. In the wake of the enforced absence from The Game Awards, and Keighley's statement that he wasn't even allowed to travel, it could be that he's not legally able to, until his contract expires.